Retardation Effect of Enzymatic Degradation of Microbial Polyesters at the Surface by Blending with Polystyrene

Abstract

The enzymatic surface degradation behavior of the blend films of polystyrene (PS) with poly[((R)-3-hydroxybutyrate)-co-((L)-3-hydroxyvalerate)] (P(3HB-co-3HV)) or poly((R)-3-hydroxybutyrate (P(3HB)) were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found that the blends of PS with P(3HB-co-3HV) or P(3HB) are immiscible in both the amorphous and melt states. The degradation of both P(3HB-co-HV) and P(3HB) was significantly retarded at the initial stages of enzymatic attack by hydrophobic PS (up to 20 wt.-%).